With only its steel framework complete, the building on Pollock field appears to be far from finished. But many people involved in the project say the construction is right on schedule.

Builders hope to complete construction of the classroom and office building by next February, said Doug Crabtree, project engineer for Cumberland Construction in Harrisburg.

Although completion is officially slated for May 1992, the builders are only one week behind schedule for their February goal, despite last month's rain and snow, Crabtree said.

Amy Olenick, administrative assistant in the Office of Physical Plant, said the project is progressing well. Physical Plant is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the building.

Olenick said the foundation's walls are complete; the structural steel has been erected; metal decking for the elevator and floor slabs are being installed and exterior masonry work is underway.

Once completed, the $11.2 million facility will be five stories and have a basement. Classrooms and lecture halls seating a total of 1,600 students will fill the first and second floors, and the rest of the building will house offices for the Eberly College of Science and the Department of Statistics.

Despite several protests and instances of vandalism last semester, builders have had little trouble in construction and no recent protests, Crabtree said. But some students say they are still concerned with the loss of green space on campus.

Dineen Marmo (freshman-business), a McElwain Hall resident, said she doesn't want to look out her window at the building.

Seema Nagaraj (senior-speech communications) agreed, saying she preferred the way the area looked before.

Although Brad McCann (sophomore-quantative business analysis) said he is upset about the loss of the field, he understands the University's need to expand. The construction, he added, is a "necessary evil."

The construction noise also bothers some students in McElwain Hall.

"It is awful, you can hardly study," Dawn Lever (freshman-science) said. Lever, whose window is across from the construction, said she can't open her window because of the noise and dust balls.

Marmo also said she cannot study in her room because of the noise and instead must use the study lounge.

Cumberland was not aware of the controversy about the loss of green space when bidding for the contract, but would have accepted the job regardless, Crabtree said.

The University selected Cumberland from 14 bidders, Crabtree said.